budget travel in PNG?

I have been doing a little web based research on PNG but am having some trouble finding info. Is there such a thing as "budget travel" in PNG (compare to the costs of Aus or South America)? The few tour operators I have come across all seem to be pretty expensive. Is independent travel (single male) a realistic possibility here? I will be in Cairns next year and am thinking of spending a week in PNG. With just a week to visit is it even worth making the trip? Could 1,000USD cover a week a trip including a flight to/from Cairns?

Some of what I am interested in: hiking, visiting some of the tribes, bird watching and maybe diving.

thanks!

The only budget travel there is traveling independently - tours in PNG are invariably expensive. Other than the cost of flying, costs are comparable to AU, or can even be lower if you are ready to "rough it".

1000 USD could be enough for a week, depending on where in PNG you'd want to go - internal flights can be pricey, and the best combination of "tribes", hiking and birding would be around Tari, quite a long flight away from Moresby!

The latest edition of LP's PNG guide has some improved coverage of budget options - make sure you do get the latest one (from this year) as the previous one was awful!

The PNG link in my signo line also has tips on budget travel in the country, including in Tari, and on getting to PNG from AU.